Watermelon Ice Bucket

You can forget the typical drink cooler for your next picnic. Keep beverages cold in a fancy-looking watermelon ice bucket you can easily make with a serrated knife and ice cream scoop!

Choose the size and shape melon to suit your needs. We turned ours into an upright cooler to hold tall bottles of wine or champagne. If a six-pack of beer or cans of pop is more your style, turn the melon horizontally for a trough-style ice bucket.

No matter which way you choose, it’s easy to stabilize by slicing a little skin off the bottom.

Don’t worry about wasting the insides of the watermelon once you’ve scooped it out. You can have it ready for snacking or add it to a fruit salad.

Watermelon ice bucket instructions

Watermelon Ice Bucket Instructions

10 mins10 mins

makes: 1 ice bucket

what you'll need

1 large watermelon

large serrated knife

marker

ice cream scoop

let's do it

Choose a watermelon that will remain stable when standing upright to chill a bottle of champagne or white wine. To accommodate a 6-pack or multiple bottles, choose a melon that rests well horizontally for a wider ice bucket.

If necessary, take a thin slice of skin off the bottom of the watermelon, or the side if making into a wide ice bucket so that it sits firmly and will be stable when filled.

Select the most appealing side of the watermelon as the front. Using a marker, trace along the top of watermelon to indicate where the cut will be made then remove the top with a sharp serrated knife.

Use an ice cream scoop to remove all of the ripe melon from the interior. Be sure to leave enough thickness at the bottom and sides to hold the liquid inside.

Rinse and dry the inside of watermelon ice bucket. Place ice and pre-chilled wine or beverages into ice bucket just before guests arrive.

Cheryl Says

You can also use your watermelon ice bucket as a creative serving dish to serve fruit salad.